Electrical switch



March 3, 1953 J. D. HOFFMAN ET AL 2,630,510

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 12, 1951 I INVENTORS 1/ JOSEPH D. HOFFMAN NED J. REES ARTHUR A. HUCKER WW /4/ffi/?/V/ Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL SWITCH Missouri Application February 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,488

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches and more specifically to electrical switches of the disconnect type, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a disconnect switch having a blade which is drawn mechanically into high pressure engagement with contacts in order that free passage of current between the blade and the contacts may be obtained.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved electrical switch of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken through the blade of the switch and illustrating parts of the switch which are located adjacent to said blade.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for purposes of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved switch of this invention generally. The switch A comprises a vertically disposed supporting member I from which is projected horizontally a pair of vertically spaced insulators 2 and 3. Suitably fixed to the insulator 2 is an upper terminal 4 and suitably fixed to the insulator 3 is a lower terminal 5. The upper and lower terminals are formed of electrical conductive material, the upper terminal 4 having mechanically and electrically connected thereto by means of a clamp structure 6 an incoming electrical conductor Ca and the lower terminal 5 having mechanically and electrically connected thereto by means of a clamp structure I an outgoing electrical conductor Cb.

The upper terminal includes an outstanding portion 8 which serves as a latch keeper, said portion 8 having an enlarged outer end portion 8a which is provided with an inner, inclined face 9 and an outer inclined face It. Also, the upper terminal includes a forwardly projected contact member H which, in plan is shaped as is shown in Fig. 3; that is to say, said contact is provided with a recess (2 having opposed, inclined faces l2a, which are faced with bodies 13 of silver, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The lower terminal 5 is provided with a forwardly projected contact M which is shaped in accordance with the contact H of the upper terminal as explained above, said contact memher l4 being provided with a recess l5 having opposed, inclined faces which are faced with bodies of silver. Additionally, the lower terminal 5 is provided with a pair of forwardly extended, spaced ears I6 (Figs. 1 and 2) through portions of which are formed alined bearing openings [1, said ears being joined by a web It.

The blade IB of the switch A comprises a tubular element that is formed of a material which is a good conductor of electricity and which possesses at least some resiliency. Adjacent to its lower end the blade 18 has mounted thereon a hinge member l9, said hinge member including a portion Illa which embraces and is secured to the blade, and a portion I9b which is projected inwardly from said blade and is disposed between the spaced ears l6 of lower terminal 5, the portion [91) having an opening 20 formed therethrough from side to side thereof. Disposed in the opening 20 of the hinge member I9 is a hinge pin 2|, said hinge having journal portions 22 at the opposite ends thereof which are disposed for rotation in the bearing openings ll of the spaced ears of the lower terminal 5. The opposed journal portions 22 are arranged eccentrically with respect to the hinge pin 2|, and set screws 23, which are arranged in openings formed in the spaced cars it engage the journal portions for locking said journal portions in positions to which they have been adjusted. Also, the journal portions have noncircular, tool-receiving extensions 24 formed thereon which serve to facilitate rotation of the journal portions within the openings ll of the spaced ears l6.

Arranged within the upper portion of the tubular blade I8 is the lower portion of a plunger 25, said plunger having an upper, bifurcated por-- tion 26 between which is mounted a roller 21 (Fig. 5). At the junction of the lower portion of the plunger and the upper, bifurcated portion thereof, said plunger is provided with a shoulder 28, which as will presently appear herein serves to contact with the top edge of the blade It and thus limit downward movement of the plunger relative to the blade. The lower portion of the plunger 25 is slotted, as indicated at 29, and hooked over a bar 29 at the lower end of the slot 29 is the upper end portion of a coil spring 30, the lower end portion of said coil spring being attached by means of a link 30 to the upper portion of a cap 3| that closes the lower end of the blade Hi.

The operating mechanism of the switch A compri es a member 32 having a pair of opposed arm portions 33 which are pivoted at 33' adjacent to their lower ends to opposite side portions of the blade 18 and extend upwardly from said pivot points. Formed integral with said arms 33 and extended forwardly from the upper ends thereof is a pair of arm portions 3 1 which are joined at their forward ends by an integral portion 35, saidportion35 being provided'with an eye portion 36 which serves a function to be hereinafter set forth. At opposite sides of the blade it of the switch A a pair of links M are provided which are pivoted at their lower ends to the members 32 at the junctions of the arm portions 33 and 34 thereof by means of pivots 38,the upper end portions of said links 31 being pivotally attached to the opposite, outer end portions of a shaft 39 on which the roller 21 is mounted (see Fig. The portion of the member 32 is provided with a screwthreaded opening that receives a screwthreaded member (Fig. 4), the head of said screwthreaded member being-adapted to contact with a surface portion of the blade It so as to limit rearward movement of the upper portion 'of the member32 and the lower portions of the links 31. This screwthreaded member may be 'screwthreadedly adjusted with respect to the portion35 ofthe member iizsoas to vary the po- I sition of the head thereof, and a lock nut M is mounted on said screwthreadedzmember for looking same in positions to which it has beenadjusted. The roller 21! is supported for adjustment in the same manner as is the hinge pin 2| at the lowerend of the blade i3. Inother words, the portion35a o'f-the shaft 29 on which'the roller 2? is mounted between the spacedlegs of the bifurcated portion it of the plunger .25 is arranged eccentric with respect to the portions 3% at opposite sides of said portion 3% which are supported by the spaced legs of the bifurcated portion 26, and by rotating the shaft 39 the center ofthe roller may be adjusted as desired.

In the use of the improved switch of this invention the coil spring 30 tends to break the toggle provided by the member 32 and the links 31 in a forward direction, as indicated by broken lines "in Fig. 6. -When the toggle is in the broken position referred to the plunger is in a lowered position where its shoulder 28 contacts with the top edge of the tubular blade 18, and the roller 21 is likewise in'a lowered position. Assuming now .that it is desired to move the switch blade to the closed switch position, the finger of a suitable switch stick will be inserted in the eye 36 of the member 32 and the blade i3 will be moved from a substantially horizontal position where its lower end portion contacts with the web [6' toward the vertical closed switch position of said blade. During upward and inward movement of the outer portion of the blade Hi the coil spring 30 will prevent movement of the member 32 with respect to said blade and, therefore, the blade will move into its vertical position with the roller 2i in its lowered position so that said roller may pass beneath .the forward, enlarged portion 8a of the portion 8 of the upper terminal 4. At this time portions of the blade 13 are seated in the recesses 12 and 15 of the contact members it and M and continued movement of the eye 36 of the member 32 in an upward direction will move said member 32 and the links it! to the position in which theyare shown in Fig. 1. This will move the plunger 25 and the roller 2? upwardly, the roller 2? contacting with the inclined face 9 of the portion 8 of the upper terminal i during upward movement thereof so as to cam the switch blade rearwardly and force portions thereof into tight contact with the bodies of silver with which the inclined faces of the recesses of the contact members H and i i are faced.

When the operation of moving the switch blade to the closed switch position has been completed the toggle produced by the member 52 and the links 37 will have passed over dead center, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and the roller 21 will be locked in its elevated position behind and in latching engagement with respect to the inclined face 9 of the portion 8 of the upper terminal i. It isimportant to note, therefore, that the switch blade [3 is drawn mechanically into high pressure contact withthe bodies of silver with which the inclined faces of .the recesses of the contact members H and Hi are faced whereby perfect electrical contact-between said parts is obtained. Also, it has been noted that slight camber is given to the switch blade between the contact members H and I4 because of the high pressure to which said switch blade is subjected. Additionally, the lower portion of the switch blade iS-andthe roller 27 maybe adjustedby rotating the eccentrically arranged hinge pin 2| and the eccentrically ar ranged portion i a'of the shaft 39 so as to cause the switch blade to engage the contacts H and i4, and the roller 2.? to engage'the face 9, in a precise manner.

When it is desired to move-the switch blade 18 from the closed switch position to the open switch 'positionit is necessary tomerely pull the eye 35 of the member 32 downwardly so as to break the toggle produced by said member 32 'andthelinks 3? in an outward direction. The coil spring 3i! will then .move the plunger .25 and the roller 2? downwardly to a position where said roller may pass beneath the enlarged, forward portion 8a of the portion 8 of the upper terminal whereupon the switch blade may be moved outwardly to the open switch position.

We claim:

1. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supportin said switch blade for swinging movement, a contact member into contact engagement with which a portion of said switch blade is movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing said switch blade into high pressure engagement with respect to said contact member comprising an element carried by said switch blade and movable in a straight line longitudinally thereof and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement.

2. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a contact member into contact engagement with which a portion of said switch blade is movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing said switch blade into high pressure engagement with respect to said contact member comprising an element rotatably carried by said switch blade and movable in a straight line longitudinally thereof, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement.

3. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a contact member into con tact engagement with which a portion of said switch blade is movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including'means for forcing said switch blade into high pressure engagement with respect to said contact member com prising an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said switch blade and movable in a straight line longitudinally thereof, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement.

4. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element carried by said plunger and movable in a straight line longitudinally of said blade, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and means for moving said plunger.

5. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for looking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members, comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element movably carried by said plunger and movable in a straight line longitudinally of said blade, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and means for moving said plunger.

6. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element rotatably carried by said plunger and movable in a straight line longitudinally of said blade, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and means for moving said plunger.

'7. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger and movable in a straight line longitudinally of said blade, and a keeper portion having a, cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and means for moving said plunger.

8. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a air of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and toggle means for moving said plunger.

9. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, toggle means for moving said plunger, and spring means connected to said plunger and to a part of said switch blade which tends to move said toggle means in one direction.

10. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, toggle means for moving said plunger, and coil spring means connected to said plunger and to a part of said switch blade which tends to move said toggle means in one direction.

11. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a contact member into contact engagement with which a portion of said switch blade is movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing said switch blade into high pressure engagement with respect to said contact member comprising an element carried by said switch blade and movable in a straight line longitudinally thereof, a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, and means for adjusting said switch blade with respect to its support.

12. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a contact member into contact engagement with which a portion of said switch blade is movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing said switch blade into high pressure engagement with respect to said contact member comprising an element carried by said switch blade and movable in a straight line longitudinally thereof, a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element .moves into contact engage-- ment, and means including an eccentric hinge pin for adjusting said switch blade with respect to its support.

13. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned -means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, means for moving said plunger, and means for adjusting said roller with respect to said plunger.

14. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, means for movingsaid plunger, and means including an eccentrically arranged supporting shaft for adjusting said roller with respect to said plunger.

15. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, means for moving said plunger, means for adjusting said switch blade with respect to its support, and means for adjusting said roller with respect to said plunger. 16. An electrical switch comprising a switch zblade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, means "for moving said plunger, means including an eccentric hinge pin for adjusting said switch blade with respect to its support, and means for adjusting said roller with respect to said plunger.

17. An electrical switch comprising a switch blade, means for supporting said switch blade for swinging movement, a pair of contact members into contact engagement with which portions of said switch blade are movable, means for locking said switch blade in the closed switch position, the last-mentioned means including means for forcing portions of said switch blade into high pressure contact engagement with respect to said contact members comprising a plunger supported by said switch blade for movement with respect thereto, an element in the form of a roller rotatably carried by said plunger, and a keeper portion having a cam face with which said element moves into contact engagement, means for moving said plunger, means including an eccentric hinge pin for adjustingsaid switch blade with respect to its support, and means including an eccentrically arranged supporting shaft for adjusting said roller with respect to said plunger.

- JOSEPH D. HOFFMAN.

NED J. REES. ARTHUR A. HUCKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,308,303 Randall Jan. 12, 1943 2,344,113 Schultz Mar. 14, 1944 

